The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly
theme-based booklist available as an online-only Bulletin
feature. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin,
we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an
extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even
dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We
ask only that you cite the source. See the archive
for
lists
from
previous
months.

Babies eat and sleep and grow and intrigue
their siblings, but babies also... have fantastic bubble-flying
adventures? Groove to a beat? Doggedly pursue the inside scoop? What
are babies up to these days? Read all about it!

Adler, Victoria. All of Baby Nose to Toes;
illus. by Hiroe Nakata. Dial, 2009. 1-3 yrsLight, rhythmic text explores all of those smoochable baby
parts, including nose, tummy, and toes. Cheerful watercolor
illustrations and an abundance of familial love make this a great
choice for laptime. (BCCB 10/09)

Harris, Robie H. Hello Benny!;
illus. by Michael Emberley. McElderry, 2002. 4-7 yrsThis unique blend of fictional story and scientific facts
recounts the first year of infant Benny’s life with factual asides
elaborating upon each developmental step. Older children will find this
one particularly helpful as they try to decipher the mysteries of their
baby siblings’s behavior. (BCCB 11/02)

Hawkes, Kevin. The Wicked Big
Toddlah; written and illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Knopf, 2007. 3-6 yrsMove over, Paul Bunyan, this gigantic baby is ready to take
his place among the heroes of tall tales. Transported home on a flatbed
truck, big Toddie gets his diaper changed by crane, eats bucket loads
of berries at a time, and must be bathed in the lake – but luckily, his
normal sized parents still think he is the perfect size to love.
(BCCB 10/07)

James, Simon. Baby Brains;
written and illus. by Simon James. Candlewick, 2004. 4-7 yrsThe efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Brains to create a baby genius
have paid off, almost too well: within weeks of being born, their
little one completes medical school, finishes astronaut training, and
sets off to travel space. Fortunately, even the allure of distant
worlds is no match for hugs from mom and dad. (BCCB 1/05)

Jenkins, Emily. That New Animal;
illus. by Pierre Pratt. Farrar, 2005. 4-7 yrs When a strange (and quite smelly) new creature joins their
household, dogs FudgeFudge and Marshmallow are less than pleased with
the resulting changes in their own routines. But even they can’t resist
the charms of the perfectly adorable, if hopelessly (in their eyes)
quirky new baby. (BCCB 3/05)

Lee, Spike. Please, Baby,
Please; by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee; illus. by Kadir Nelson.
Simon, 2002. 2-4 yrsAh, the joys of trying to coax a baby into doing exactly
what you’d like in those moments when they clearly have an agenda of
their own. You can beg, you can flatter, you can pretend to be the
boss, but babies will still go their own way. At least this
round-eyed charmer is obviously worth every bit of the work. (BCCB 2/03)

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. How to Be a
Baby – by Me, the Big Sister; illus. by Sue Heap. Schwartz & Wade,
2007. 5-8 yrsLists, a saucy attitude, and plenty of kid-friendly
illustrations all make this an ideal offering to older siblings who
will easily be able to relate to the narrator’s take on the benefits,
and drawbacks, of being the big sis. (BCCB 4/07)

Mahy, Margaret. Bubble Trouble;
illus. by Polly Dunbar. Clarion, 2009. 5-9 yrsLarge, bright illustrations and irrepressible meter and
rhyme make this picture book about a baby’s wild bubble ride a perfect
choice for storytimes. Kids will cheer the eventful journey in a
bubble created by an older sibling, and they’ll likely wish fervently
that they had such a traveling device of their own. (BCCB 5/09)

Meyers, Susan. This Is the Way a
Baby Rides; illus. by Hiroe Nakata. Abrams, 2005. 2-4 yrsThis warm, cozy picture book offers examples of animal life
paired with the everyday activities of a baby and parents. A
yummy lunch, a game of hide and seek, and a friendly evening with loved
ones are all presented from dual animal and human perspectives with
simple text and elegant watercolor and gouache illustrations. (BCCB
2/06)

Milord, Susan. Love That Baby!;
written and illus. by Susan Milord. Houghton, 2005. 6-18 mosIn this book for the very young, lift-the-flap features and
uncluttered, clear illustrations encourage interaction and repeat
readings. The baby in question has the usual range of needs, all
of which are cheerfully, lovingly met by expressive, warmly drawn
adults. (BCCB 10/05)

Solheim, James. Born Yesterday:
The Diary of a Young Journalist; illus. by Simon James. Philomel, 2010.
5-9 yrsIf newborns were born with a pencil in hand and an eye for
journalism, this is pretty close to what they’d likely produce as they
try to puzzle out mobiles, older sisters, and what exactly their role
is in the absurdly large world around them. (BCCB 5/10)

Wheeler, Lisa. Jazz Baby; illus.
by R. Gregory Christie. Harcourt, 2007. 1-3 yrsDancing and clapping are a must for this perfect readaloud
celebration of the ways even tiny babies can still enjoy a good groove.
The warm extended family all gathered to help baby find a beat and hear
love through music will charm even the most reluctant toddler. (BCCB
12/07)